Word Origin & History

1580s, perhaps from Middle Dutch blinken "to glitter," of uncertain origin, possibly, with German blinken "to gleam, sparkle, twinkle," from a nasalized form of base found in Old English blican "to shine, glitter" (see bleach (v.)).

Middle English had blynke (c.1300) in the sense "a brief gleam or spark," perhaps a variant of blench "to move suddenly or sharply; to raise one's eyelids" (c.1200), perhaps from the rare Old English blencan "deceive." Related: Blinked; blinking. The last, as a euphemism for a stronger word, is attested by 1914.

Example Sentences for blinking

"I would I had your eyes," said Sir Nigel, blinking at the pirate galleys.

Peppajee smoked stolidly, his eyes half closed and blinking sleepily.

For a moment Mathilde remained motionless, blinking her eyes.

Other workmen were smoking, staring up into the sky and blinking their eyes.

Harry was blinking and stirring and I could tell just by looking at him that he was uneasy too.

"The master's lost all his wrustling," said Natt, blinking out of his sleepy eyes.

"Yes, Miss," said the stranger, blinking at her with his bleary eyes.

She looked up me, blinking, and took the liquor in a single draught.

She peered, blinking with make-believe myopia, into the hollow of Sally's hand.

He did not mean the blinking, eavesdropping humbug to force his action.